MOVES to breathe new life into a popular Cradley Heath beauty spot in a £23,500 scheme have got under way.

Forestry contractors have moved on to the site after a successful bid by The Friends of Mousesweet Brook to secure Government funding.

The Friends, who look after Mousesweet Brook Nature Reserve, are keen to raise the profile of the attraction and make it more accessible to visitors.

Money for the work has been made available through the Living Spaces programme and will be carried out over the next few months.

The Friends have been working closely with Sandwell Wildspace Officer, Jo Miskin, to develop the project to offer visitors a wide range of benefits.

A new footpath and boardwalk is set to be created along with a small pond and dipping platform for children.

Preliminary work to the footpath construction will involve the removal of some large willow trees, which may pose a threat to safety if left untouched.

Mr Miskin said: "The trees are really only being coppiced and pollarded and will re-grow quickly. "Because parts of the woodland are so wet, the trees will be extracted using a heavy horse instead of machinery."

In addition, a bridge will be built across the brook itself which will link the site to Saltwells Nature Reserve.